Abstract

The deposition of tophi in gout has long been recognized to be a consequence of the sparing solubility of sodium urate in body fluids. On the other hand, the precise way in which uric acid might be related to the acute attack of gouty arthritis has been poorly understood. The failure to produce acute attacks of gouty arthritis by the intravenous infusion or the intra-articular injection of urate solutions has led many to doubt seriously that uric acid per se has anything to do with the acute attack of gouty arthritis.